Action on Poverty (AOP) and the World Mosquito Program (WMP) have announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the global scale-up of the Wolbachia method—a safe, sustainable, and scientifically proven approach to reducing mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue.
The partnership formalises a long-standing collaboration between the two organisations, which have worked together across Vietnam and Timor-Leste, and are now expanding into Sri Lanka. These programs have demonstrated the power of combining scientific innovation with strong in-country delivery and partnership-based execution to achieve results at scale.
Building on this track record, the strategic partnership brings together WMP’s global scientific leadership and government engagement capability with AOP’s strength in implementation and financing, creating a platform to reach significantly more communities, faster.
This partnership reflects Action on Poverty’s venture philanthropy approach—deploying capital, capability, and partnerships to scale evidence-based solutions with the potential for transformational impact.
Through this collaboration, AOP will work alongside WMP to unlock new sources of philanthropic and development capital and structure co-financing models that enable faster, more efficient expansion of Wolbachia programs globally.
As part of this approach, AOP is making a significant investment through its legacy fund—backing a proven innovation with the discipline and long-term commitment required to scale.
This represents a deliberate ‘big bet’ on a solution with the potential to benefit millions of people living in low-income countries by reducing the burden of mosquito-borne diseases.
The partnership is designed to combine complementary capabilities:
- WMP will lead scientific development, program strategy, and government partnerships
- AOP will support implementation and delivery systems, and mobilise capital to scale
Together, the organisations will work to accelerate deployment, expand into new geographies, and strengthen the global positioning of the Wolbachia method as a scalable public health solution.
Meghal Shah, CEO of Action on Poverty, said: “This partnership builds on years of collaboration with the World Mosquito Program, where we’ve seen first-hand the impact of this approach in countries like Vietnam and Timor-Leste. As we expand into Sri Lanka and beyond, we are leaning into our venture philanthropy model—making a focused, long-term investment in a proven solution that has the potential to benefit millions.”
Scott O’Neill, CEO of World Mosquito Program, said: “Our partnership with Action on Poverty has already delivered strong results in multiple countries. Formalising this relationship enables us to scale more effectively and extend the reach of the Wolbachia method to communities most at risk.”
A system-embedded approach to preventing mosquito-borne disease
Reducing long-term disease burden while strengthening public health systems
Dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases are increasing as climate change expands mosquito habitats and intensifies outbreaks. Children and low-income households are disproportionately affected, placing sustained pressure on already stretched health systems.
Despite decades of effort, most responses remain reactive. Spraying and outbreak control are costly, short-lived and often arrive too late. Many countries remain locked in cycles of emergency response rather than durable prevention.
The solution: prevention embedded into public health systems
The World Mosquito Program’s Wolbachia method offers a fundamentally different approach. By introducing the naturally occurring bacterium Wolbachia into Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, their ability to transmit dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever is significantly reduced.
The method does not involve genetic modification and once established at high levels is designed to be self-sustaining. This provides long-term protection without the need for continuous releases, repeated spraying or ongoing behaviour-change campaigns.
The approach is designed to be embedded within routine public health systems. Following successful implementation in Vietnam and Timor-Leste, the partnership is scaling into Sri Lanka.
Why this is a Big Bet worth backing
The Wolbachia method represents a rare prevention solution that is scientifically proven, publicly accepted and designed to last. Once established, it delivers population-wide protection and reduces reliance on repeated, high-cost interventions.
Globally, treated areas have seen significant reductions in dengue incidence and hospitalisations compared to untreated communities. In southern Vietnam and Timor-Leste, more than 500,000 people have been protected, with large-scale community engagement and health worker training building strong public trust and acceptance.
This is not short-term outbreak control. It is a foundational shift toward long-term national prevention and more resilient public health systems.
The opportunity
Investment at this stage supports the efficient scaling of the Wolbachia method into countries and regions facing rising climate-driven disease risk. Funding helps consolidate national adoption, strengthen long-term quality assurance, and extend protection to communities most exposed to future outbreaks.
The focus is on embedding prevention within routine public health systems so protection can be maintained and expanded over time, moving countries away from cyclical response and toward sustained disease control.
Long-term prevention. Stronger health systems. Protection that endures.
